A Message from our Executive Director

As we step into another new year, I’m amazed by how many miracles we witness on our recovery programs—miracles only made possible through generous people like you.

One highlight of the past year was our Room for Hope campaign. Legacy Kitchens and Dennis Plintz & Associates partnered with us to help homeless men escape the cycle of addiction. Our goal together was to raise $120,000 to support our recovery program and help more than 100 men graduate into lives of purpose over the coming year.

This campaign culminated in our annual “Music for a Winter Evening” concert in mid-December at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. It was an event not to be missed!

Thanks to you, our faithful community of support, we reached our vital goal of raising $120,000. This means that, because of you, we can continue to offer the Dream Centre’s top quality addiction recovery program to people who otherwise couldn’t afford it.

You’ve also helped us add an essential Women’s Recovery Home to our programs, extending our life-changing process to more people than ever before. In these times of economic downturn, we know that it can be harder to give and that support for our work can be hard to find. And yet, your generosity continues to amaze us. Even in tough times, you share our heart for those in need.

That’s why we’re so grateful for every dollar given during this difficult period, and earnestly thank you for your kindhearted compassion. Together, we can expect a 2016 full of hope.

“Even though I still have my struggles, I am grateful every day to be alive.”

Josh’s Story of Transformation

I had a wonderful childhood; I played baseball, had many friends, took care of my little brother, and did well at school.

When I was 14, I realized that my dad was an alcoholic. It didn’t bother me until I was the one who had to carry him up to bed and take care of him. I never wanted to be like that. My love for sports also kept me away from the partying crowd in high school.

When I turned 18, that changed. I started drinking a lot on the weekends, because that’s what everyone was doing. I was at university to become a gym teacher and continued to play sports until I dislocated my kneecap during a high jump competition.

I have never felt such pain. I was devastated, in a steel leg cast for three months and unable to play sports. I began drinking heavily and eventually got kicked out of university because of my terrible grades.

I started working at a restaurant, and the downward spiral continued. Soon, I was doing cocaine, then oxycontin. I stole money from my dad and my mom was so furious that she brought me to a treatment centre. I did well there, but the minute I got out, I went back to drugs.

I started stealing from my work for heroin. I got fired, and when I was 22 began to work in the construction industry. There, I was introduced to more drugs. I was high even while I worked, and became numb to everything other than the constant feeling of guilt. That’s when I started doing fentanyl—six or seven pills each night.

Eventually, I ended up homeless. I decided to commit suicide and stole money from my dad to buy 30 fentanyl pills. Something told me that while I was taking the pills I should go bridge jumping, like I used to love doing as a kid. So I took eight pills at a time while jumping off the bridge into the lake. After surviving more than twenty fentanyl pills, I suddenly realized that I didn’t want to die.

I rushed to detox. The doctor told me that the only reason my respiratory system didn’t shut down was because the cold lake water had shocked my system. That “something” that told me to go bridge jumping is the only reason I’m alive.

My counselor at the detox centre told me about the youth program at the Calgary Dream Centre.

I loved being in a program with guys my own age, and the youth counselor was great as well. I finally felt like somebody understood me and I knew he genuinely cared. In my second week, we got to go camping. I learned that it was possible to have fun without drugs or alcohol.

A few weeks later, when I graduated, I was ecstatic. I felt so supported and loved.

I now work at the Calgary Dream Centre as an Operational Support Worker, and, even though I still have my struggles, I am grateful every day to be alive. I finally feel like I have what I need to stay clean because of what the Calgary Dream Centre has done for me. Now I get to pour that back into the lives of the other guys here when I work.

Easter at the Dream Center

With Easter approaching, plans for our Easter Banquet are already underway. It’s another opportunity for the men and women in our programs to celebrate how far they’ve come since arriving, and an important chance to reconnect with their family.

Easter is the perfect time to build up the relationships we’ve started and provide extra encouragement. Empowering our guests starts with you! If you’ve given before, then you already recognize the importance of the work being done at the Calgary Dream Centre. We are incredibly fortunate to have your support, and feel deeply grateful for your continued generosity.